Cow'ard1, n.
(kou'ard), n. [O. Fr. conard, coard, coart, Pr. coart, Sp. & Pg. cobarde, It. codardo, originally short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, from O. Fr. coe, coue, N. Fr. queue, Pr. coa, coba, coda, coza, It. coda, Lat. cauda, tail, and the termination ard, q.v.; or perhaps one who turns tail, like a scared dog.] 1. A person who lacks courage to meet danger; a timid or pusillanimous man; a poltroon. A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden. A coward does not always escape with disgrace, but sometimes loses his life. South. 2. (Her.) A lion borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs. Syn.—Craven; poltroon; dastard.—COWARD, CRAVEN, POLTROON, DASTARD. Coward denotes literally one who slinks back like a terrified beast with the tail between the legs. A craven is literally one who begs off, or shrinks at the approach of danger. A poltroon is a mean-spirited coward. Dastard has become one of the strongest terms of reproach in our language. A coward, a most devout coward, religious in it! Shak. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath? —He is a craven and a villain else! Shak. For who but a poltroon, possessed with fear, Such haughty insolence can tamely bear? Dryden. Dastard and drunkard, mean and insolent; Tongue-valiant hero, vaunter of thy might, In threats the foremost, but the last in fight. Dryden.